Compressor



Jan. 24, 1967 c, wlNKLER 3,300,125

COMPRE S S OR Filed April 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 24, 1967 c. D. WINKLER COMPRESSOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 22, 1965 United States Patent QfiFiQQ 3,300,125 Patented Jan. 24, 1%67 3,300,125 COMPRESSOR Claude D. Winirler, Evansville, Ind, assignor to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 22, 1965, er. No. 449,968 8 Claims. (Cl. 230235) This invention relates to a rotary compressor apparatus for use with a volatile refrigerant or the like.

Rotary compressors which are customarily motor driven ordinarily comprise an enclosing housing and a motor-compressor unit within the housing. In order to isolate noise and vibration it is customary to provide resilient mounting means for positioning the motorized compressor within the housing.

One of the features of this invention is to provide an improved motor-compressor apparatus having improved spring means for mounting the compressor and motor in the housing so as to isolate the motorized compressor from the housing.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of one embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Of the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view partially in section of a motorized compressor embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional elevational view illustrating a detail of the structure.

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIGURE 1 but with the supporting springs and brackets omitted for clarity of illustration.

The compressor of this invention comprises an enclosing housing assembly made up of a lower cup-shaped part 11 and an upper inverted cup-shaped part 12 provided with overlapped edges 13 and 14, respectively, joined together as by welding 15.

Positioned within the housing assembly 10 is the motorized compressor 23 arranged in inverted position in that the motor 16 is at the lower end and the rear head 17 of the compressor is at the upper end. Beneath the rear head 17 and spaced therefrom is a front head 18 with the cylinder 19 of the compressor therebetween. The use of a compressor arranged in the inverted position in conjunction with the resilient mounting means of this invention is highly desirable. This permits the parts of the compressor which are noisy due to relatively moving parts to be mounted above and out of contact with the lubricating oil in the sump at the bottom of the housing, with the resulting advantage that less noise is transmitted to the housing. This is because it has been found that substantially less noise from moving members is transmitted to the housing through a gaseous medium such as at the top of the housing than through the relatively denser lubricant fluid such as found in the sump.

The compressor is provided with the usual inlet line 20 leading to the interior of the housing assembly 10 and with the usual outlet line 21 leading from the compressor. As best seen in FIGURE 4, inlet line 20 and outlet line 21 overlie one another and encircle the rear head 17. Each of lines 20 and 21 upon leaving its connection with the rear head 17 makes substantially one complete loop before making an exit through the housing wall 12. This construction provides a flexible tubing connection between the compressor 23 and the housing assembly 11) which serves to further reduce noise transmitted to the housing and to permit the compressor 23 to vibrate in all directions without danger of rupture or damage of lines 20 and 21.

The bottom of the housing assembly 10 is provided with the usual oil sump 22 adapted to contain lubricating oil (not shown).

The motorized compressor unit 23 within the housing assembly 10 and comprising the motor 16, rear head 17, front head 18 and compressor cylinder 19 is supported by spring means 24 comprising a plurality of pairs of elongated coil springs 25 and 26 spaced around the periphery of the compressor as shown most clearly in FIGURE 2. Each pair of springs extends generally linearly away from a common center 27 substantially tangentially around the compressor. Thus, each pair of springs 25 and 26 in the illustrated embodiment is made up of a single wire coiled to provide the coil springs 25 and 26 and the center wire part 27. Each end of the pair adjacent a spring 25 and 26 is shaped to provide a hook 28. If desired, of course, the springs could be arranged individilally rather than in pairs.

As is shown in FIGURE 2, each hook 28 engages a part 29 of the front head 18 adjacent the periphery thereof. The center part 27 of each pair of springs is held by a first portion or upper end 30 of a vertically extending bracket 31. As is shown in enlarged detail in FIGURE 3, each upper end 30 of the bracket is curved to form a loop 32 that receives the center 27 of each pair of springs. This looped upper end 30 extends above the edge 13 of the lower cup-shaped part 1 1 of the housing 10. During assembly this loop 32 at the upper end 30 of each bracket 31 is closed by the edge 14 of the inverted cup-shaped upper part 12 of the housing 10 to thus lock spring center 27 in the desired location, thereby preventing accidental escape of the spring center 27 during compressor operation.

The compressor unit 23 is supported solely by the spring means 24. Because of the weight of the compressor unit 23, each of the springs 25 and 26 is inclined slightly downwardly from the horizontal progressing from its bracket 31 to the hook 28.

For improved stability the spring means 24 support is above the center of gravity of the compressor unit 23 so that the unit hangs from the springs. Thus, the spring means serve to isolate the vibration of the compressor unit 23 from the housing 10 with the result that the noise transmitted to the housing is very much reduced under that of ordinary compressors of similar types. In addition, because the compressor unit is in effect suspended from the spaced brackets 31 by the springs 25 and 26, the unit is substantially isolated from the housing 10 except for the springs and the tubing connections. Therefore, the spring means mounting serves to center the compressor unit in the housing.

By suspending the compressor unit in the manner described with the springs 25 and 26 of each pair at a small angle to the horizontal, as described, the springs not only suspend the compressor and resist torsional movement of the unit by the tension resistance of the springs but also obtain the maximum effect of the springs in isolating torsional vibration of the unit from the housing. This is because any tendency to torsional movement is resisted by the strength of the springs.

In order to restrict excessive longitudinal movement of the compressor unit 23 during shipping and handling, there is provided on a second portion or lower end of each of spaced brackets 31 a horizontal leg or stop means 33. Thus, in the event of a severe longitudinal shock the front head 18 strikes the upper surface 34 of the stop 33, thereby preventing damage to the compressor or overstress of the springs 25 and 26. Excessive lateral movement as a result of a horizontally directed force is prevented because of the rather close spacing between the front head 18 and the housing wall 11.

The positioning of the compressor unit 23 within the housing is relatively simple. Before the upper part 12 of the housing is positioned as shown in the drawings the upper ends 39 of the brackets 31 are exposed above the edge of the lower housing part 11. The compressor unit 23 is then lowered into the housing part 11 and the centers 27 of the spring pairs positioned within the bracket loops 32 as shown. Then the upper part 12 is placed in position as shown and attached to the lower part 11 as by welding 15. This simple assembly procedure gives a positive alignment and requires no adjustment of the compressor within the housing and also provides a foolproof means for retaining such alignment during the final operation of welding upper part 12 to lower part 11. Thus, the final assembly of upper part 12 to lower part 11 automatically traps spring center 27 between bracket 31 and housing thereby preventing subsequent accidental escape of this spring center 27.

Having described my invention as related to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, it is my intention that the invention be not limted by any of the details of description, unless otherwise specified, but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as set out in the accompanying claims.

The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed is defined as follows:

1. In a rotary compressor apparatus for use with a volatile refrigerant and the like, apparatus comprising: a housing; a motorized compressor therein; and spring means constituting the sole support of said compressor in said housing, said spring means comprising a plurality of elongated helical coil springs spaced around said compressor and substantially tangential thereto and having one end of each attached to said housing and the other end attached to said compressor, the weight of the compressor causing each spring to be inclined slightly downwardly from the horizontal.

2. In a rotary compressor apparatus for use with a volatile refrigerant and the like, apparatus comprising: a housing; a motorized compressor therein; spring means constituting the sole support of said compressor in said housing, said spring means comprising a plurality of elongated springs arranged in pairs and spaced around the periphery of said compressor, each pair of springs extending linearly away from a common center; means for attaching said center of each pair to one of said housing and compressor; and means for attaching the end of each spring opposite said center to the other of said housing and compressor, the weight of the compressor causing each spring to be inclined slightly downwardly from the horizontal.

3. In a rotary compressor apparatus for use with a volatile refrigerant and the like, apparatus comprising: a housing; a motorized compressor therein; spring means constituting the sole support of said compressor in said housing, said spring means comprising a plurality of elongated springs arranged in pairs and spaced around the periphery of said compressor, each pair of springs extending linearly away from a common center; means for attaching said center of each pair to said housing; and means for attaching the end of each spring opposite said center to said compressor, the weight of the compressor causing each spring to be inclined slightly downwardly from the horizontal.

4. In a rotary compressor apparatus for use with a volatile refrigerant and the like, apparatus comprising: a housing; a motorized compressor therein; spring means constituting the sole support of said compressor in said housing, said spring means comprising a plurality of elongated springs arranged in pairs and each positioned tangentially to and spaced around the periphery of said compressor, each pair of springs extending linearly away from a common center; spaced bracket means mounted on the interior of said housing each having an upper end and a lower end, said upper end supporting a said center of a pair of springs; and stop means on said lower end for restricting excessive longitudinal movement of said compressor, the weight of the compressor causing each spring to be inclined slightly downwardly from the horizontal.

5. In a rotary compressor apparatus for use with a volatile refrigerant and the like, apparatus comprising: a housing; a motorized compressor therein, said housing comprising a lower cup-shaped part and an upper inverted cup-shaped part, said parts being joined together at adjacent edges; spring means constituting the sole support of said compressor in said housing, said spring means comprising a plurality of elongated springs arranged in pairs and spaced around the periphery of said compressor, each pair of springs extending linearly away from a common center; a plurality of brackets attached to the inner surface of said lower housing part and having an upper end extending therebeyond; means on said upper end of each bracket for retaining a said center of a pair of springs; means for attaching the end of each spring opposite said center to said compressor, the weight of the compressor causing each spring to be inclined slightly downwardly from the horizontal; and

means for attaching said upper part of said housing to said lower part, said upper housing part extending across said upper end of the brackets to prevent acci dental escape of said spring centers.

6. In a rotary compressor apparatus for use with a volatile refrigerant and the like, apparatus comprising: a housing; a motorized compressor therein having a motor on a lower end and a rear head at the upper end, said housing comprising a lower cup-shaped part and an upper inverted cup-shaped part, said parts being joined together at adjacent edges; spring means con stituting the sole support of said compressor in said housing, said spring means comprising a plurality of elongated springs arranged in pairs and spaced tangen tially around the periphery of said compressor, each pair of springs extending linearly away from a common center; a plurality of brackets attached to the inner surface of said lower housing part and having an upper edge extending therebeyond; means on each bracket for retaining a said center of a pair of springs; means for attaching the end of each spring opposite said center to said compressor, the weight of the compressor causing each spring to be inclined sligthly downwardly from the horizontal; and means for attaching said upper part of said housing to said lower part, said upper housing part extending across said upper end of the brackets to prevent accidental escape of said spring centers.

7. In a rotary compressor apparatus for use with a volatile refrigerant and the like, apparatus comprising: a housing; a motorized compressor therein; spring means for supporting said compressor in said housing; and bracket means attached to said housing having a first portion on which said spring means is mounted and a second portion comprising a stop means spaced from said compressor for restricting excessive movement of said compressor.

8. In a rotary compressor apparatus for use with a volatile refrigerant and the like, apparatus comprising: a housing; a motorized compressor therein having a motor on a lower end and a rear head at the upper end; spring means constituting the sole support of said compressor in said housing, said spring means comprising a plurality of elongated springs arranged in pairs and spaced around the periphery of said compressor, each pair of springs extending linearly away from a common center; a plurality of bracket means attached to said housing each having a first portion on which a said spring means center is mounted and a second portion comprising a stop means spaced from said compressor References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,857,746 10/1958 Philipp 230235 X 3,182,902 5/1965 Foris 230235 3,187,995 6/1965 Kjeldsen 230232 ROBERT M. WALKER, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A ROTARY COMPRESSOR APPARATUS FOR USE WITH A VOLATILE REFRIGERANT AND THE LIKE, APPARATUS COMPRISING: A HOUSING; A MOTORIZED COMPRESSOR THEREIN; AND SPRING MEANS CONSTITUTING THE SOLE SUPPORT OF SAID COMPRESSOR IN SAID HOUSING, SAID SPRING MEANS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED HELICAL COIL SPRINGS SPACED AROUND SAID COMPRESSOR AND SUBSTANTIALLY TANGENTIAL THERETO AND HAVING ONE END OF EACH ATTACHED TO SAID HOUSING AND THE OTHER END ATTACHED TO SAID COMPRESSOR, THE WEIGHT OF THE COMPRESSOR CAUSING EACH SPRING TO BE INCLINED SLIGHTLY DOWNWARDLY FROM THE HORIZONTAL. 